This particular airline had contract negotiators and those off the merger team end up in management positions directly after things were signed. Others were given off line check capt positions as first officers. They are perhaps now one of the lower compensated pilot groups for their area of operations.
LMRDA, the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act address some elements of bribes and illegal kick backs. However it does not address job promotion.
Report of Employers
(29 U.S.C. 433)
SEC. 203. (a) Every employer who in any fiscal year made –
- any payment or loan, direct or indirect, of money or other thing of value
- any payment (including reimbursed expenses) to any of his employees, or any group or committee of such employees,
- any expenditure, during the fiscal year, where an object thereof, directly or indirectly, is to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of the right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing.
- any agreement or arrangement with a labor relations consultant or other independent contractor or organization pursuant to which such person undertakes activities where an object thereof, directly or indirectly, is to persuade employees to exercise or not to exercise, or persuade employees as to the manner of exercising, the right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing
- any payment (including reimbursed expenses) pursuant to an agreement or arrangement described above.
You are correct in that this does not address promotion it only addresses cash, bribes or other things of value.